Airship bulkhead



K. ARNSTEIN ET AL AIRSHIP BULK June 6, 1933.

HEAD

' Filed June 26, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 gwumtw Karl/7 n 23 Pau/ He/ma.

June 6, 1933. K, ARNST IN Er A 1,913,325

AIRSHIP BULKHEAD Filed June 26, 1931 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 m iim ....u.ummnm l i l gmemtoz Karl fir/1568,61 and Pau/ He/ma Patented June 6, 1933 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE) KARL aansrrnrnann mwn imam, or Axnonomo, assreivons TO OODYEAR znzernmn coarona'rron', or umen, 01110, A CORPORATION or DELAWARE AIRSHI-P BULKHEAD Application filed June 26,

1 This invention relates to airships of the rigid frame type and more particularly to improvements in bulkheads used between individual gas cells therein.

i one object of the invention is to provide an improved strong, light bulkhead made. up of individual wires which are formed into a net ,in which the intersections of the wire are fixed togetherr In this manner the full strength of each wire is utilized throughout its entire length. u y

"Another object of the invention is the formation of a circular netting in which the individual strands extend in alternately turned curves from the circumference to the center of the netting. The curves are actually formedby a plurality of straight relatively short sides or chords which extend fromone intersection of the. strands to another.

Another object of the invention is to mount the nettingor bulkhead in atransverse frame l or main ring inan improved manner so the 1 therein whereby the strength in the wires is necessary flexibility will be obtained; A certain flexibility of the bulkheads is required due to the contraction and expansion of the main rings such as caused by temperature changes and also to provide a slight yielding action'to the gas cells.

Another object of the invention islto provide a bulkhead netting built up of wires in which each wire extends through the bulkhead with substantially no bencls or kinks preserved. u a a y 3 a.

In the construction of large rigid airships of the Zeppelintype, it is customary to employ a plurality of individual gas cells for carrying the lifting gas. The cells are maintained in position in the frame by bulkheads,

such as disclosed in Patent .No. 1,669,592, which consist of flexible cord netting secured by ropes to main rings. Wires or wire netting have. also been proposed for this pur pose. Cord, while light inweight andproviding the desired flexibility, deteriorates more-rapidly than'wire. Wire, on the other hand, fails to provide the desired flexibility.

The present invention avoids and overcomes the foregoing difficulties by, the provision of a circularwirebulkheadnetting built 1931. Serial No. 547,014

up from individual wires so positioned and fastened that the individual strength of each wire is retained. The netting is preferably fastened around its upper. portion to the frame by resilient means and aroundits lower portion to the frame by non-resilient means, as indicated in the drawings.

For a better understanding of the inven tion, referencemay now be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in whichi a Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a bulkhead comprisingthe invention and illustrates the bulkhead netting secured to a diagrammatically shown main ringYof a rigid airship; a i y I Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view, on a larger scale, of the central portion of Fig. 1 illustrating a central fastening grommet or ring;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view, on a larger scale, of a portion of Fig. 1 illustrating the manner in which certain portions of the individual wiresofthe bulkhead netting are secured together; a

Fig. 4 is a view,similar to Fig. 3, illustrating the manner in which intersecting individual wires are secured together;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged .fragmentary View of Fig. 1 illustratinga connection between one portion of the bulkhead netting. and the means for fastening the netting. to the main ring y i Fig. 6 is a View, similar to Fig. 5, illustrating another connection between thebulkhead netting and the means for fastening the netting in the main ring;

Fig.7 isan enlarged fragmentary view of Fig. 1 illustratingthe meansfor adjustably but non-resiliently securing the bulkhead netting to the main ring; and

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary view of Fig. 1 illustrating the means for resiliently securing the bulkhead netting in the main ring.

' Referring to the drawings, the numeral 10 indicates a diagrammatically shown main transverse frame or ring or a rigid airship. Secured 1n the mam ring 10 1s a bulkhead netting which comprises a plurality of in dividual wires 11 which are built into a Circular netting. The wires 11 are preferably of steel or of aluminum alloy and are of a size which will provide ample strength. The indii idual wires 11 are passed through a center grommet or ring 12, indicated in Fig. 2, which holds the wires substantially at their mid points. From the ring 12, the opposite ends of the individual wires extend outwardly together to the point, indicated by the numeral 13, which is shown enlarged in Fig. 3, where the Wires are secured together by suitable fastening means which preferably comprise a serving wire 14 which is wrapped smoothly and tightly about the wires. The ends of the serving wire 14 are cut off short and tucked under the wrapping and the whole is soldered together and to the wires so that a very firm fastening is secured. From the point 13, the opposite ends of the wires 11 extend in alternately turned curves to the circumference of the netting where they are slung about or secured to suitable small rings or grommets 15. While the bulkhead has been described as being built up from individual wires held at their middles by the center grommet 12 it will be understood that the invention contemplates cutting the wires in two and fastening the ends of the wires directly to the grommet 12.

As seen in Fig. 1, the individual wires will thus form aplurality of intersections indicated in the drawings by the numeral 18. The intersections 18 are secured together as shown in Fig. 4:, by suitable means which preferably comprises means similar 'to those indicated in Fig. 3 and explained above. Vhile it has been stated that the opposite ends of the individual wires extend in alternately turned curves, the curves are actually composed of a series ofstraight chords of the are which would comprise the curve. In other words, between the'inters sections 18 and 13 the wires of course run in straight lines. r

Fig. 5 illustrates the manner in which the ends of individual wires 11 are connected at the circumference of the netting, which point is indicated by the numeral 21. Fig. 6 illustrates the manner in which the individual wires are connected at a second point 22 to the circumference of the bulkhead netting. From the points 21 and 22, double wires 23 and 24 respectively extend to means for fastening the bulkhead netting to the main ring 10. A number of these fastening means comprise resilient devices which may take the form of air cylinders 27, as indicated in Fig. 8, which are secured to the main ringlO preferably through the agency of a diagrammatically indicated ball and socketjoint 28. .The other fastening means 26 are non-resilient, as shown in Fig. 7, andthese are also preferably secured to the main ring 10 through the agency of ball and socket joints 29. Both forms of fastening means may include adjustable screw means 31 whereby the tension on the bulkhead netting can be adjusted.

ires 32' are provided around the circumference of the bulkhead netting which serve to connect the grommets 15 together. It will be seen that the wires 32 are slack at the points 33 which is necessary in order that the bulkhead netting can have a certain flexibility and an expanding action as described above. A number of other wires 35 are provided which extend between the resilient fastening means 27 and which are strung with some slackness to permit the bulkhead netting to expand when necessary.

The bulkhead netting is preferably constructed on a large jig which holds the groinmets 12 and 15 in the desired position and which provides pins or other positioning means at, the points 13 and 18 so that the individual wires 11 can be placed substantially in the position and given approximatelythe tension they will have in the completed netting. The individual wrappings 14L are then applied at the various intersections 18 and 13, and the ends of the wires secured to the grommets 15, as shown, with little loss of time. The main ring 10 is placed concentric to the bulkhead netting while it is still on the jig and the bulkhead netting is secured to the ring, after which the ring and netting are removed.

lVhile the invention has been particularly described as using wire in the construction of the netting, it will be appreciated that various strand materials can be employed such as rope or cord.

From Fig. 1, it will be seen that the bulkhead netting is secured around its upper circumference by the resilient fastening means 27 and is secured by the non-resilient fastening means 26 around the remaining bottom portion of the netting. In this manner, the bulkhead netting will be supported in a tight yet resilient position at all times regardless of the contraction or expansion of the main ring or of the gas cells and regardless of the weight of, the bulkhead netting. v

By the construction indicated in the drawings and described herein, it will be apparent that a strong, light, flexibly mounted bulkhead is provided which can be readily constructed and repaired. The strength of the netting is greater than those formerly known particularly because the wires are not kinked or knotted as in former constructions.

Although we have illustrated but the preferred form of the invention and have described that form in detail, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention is not so limited but that various modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or from the scope of the appended claims.

resilient members for securing the netting and individually securing each strand thereof in the main frame at spaced points.

2. The combination with a transverse mai frame of a rigid airship, of a bulkhead which comprises a substantially circular wire netting formed of a plurality of individual wires which extend in alternately-turned, chord-formed curves from the circumference of the netting to the center thereof, means for securing the individual wires together at each of their intersections to form meshes in which the chords of the curves comprise the sides, and means for securing the netting and individually securing each wire thereof in themain frame at spaced points.

I 3. The combination with a transverse mainframe of a rigid airship, of a bulkhead which comprises a substantially circular wire nettingformed of a plurality of individual wires which extend in alternately-turned,

chord-formed curves from the circumference of the, netting to the center thereof, means for securing the ind vidual wires together at each of their intersections to form meshes 111 which the chords of the curves comprise the sides, andmeans for securing the netting in the main frame at spaced points. 4. In a rigid airship, a bulkhead for a transverseimain ring consisting of a wire netting in which the wires are formed in intersecting curves comprising a series of straight sides, and serving wire for securing the wires together at their intersections, the serving wire being soldered to the netting wires.

5. In a rigid airship, a bulkhead for a transverse main ringv consisting of a wire netting in which the wires are formed in intersecting curves comprising a series of straight sides, and serving wire for securing the wires together at their intersections.

6. In a rigid airship, abulkhead for atransverse ring including a center grommet and a plurality of wires held near their midpoint-s by the center'grommet and extending in alternately-turned curves to the circumference of thebulkhead, and means connecting the individual wires together at their intersections. r

7. The combination of a bulkhead and a transverse main ring of a rigid airship which comprises means resilientlysecuring a portion of the bulkhead to the ring ans.

means non-resiliently securing the remainder of the bulkhead to the ring.

8. The combination of a bulkhead and a transverse main ring of a rigid airship which comprises means resiliently securing the up per portion of the bulkhead to the ring, and

means non-resiliently securing the remainder of the bulkhead to the rin In Witness whereof, we have hereunto signed our names.

KARL ARNSTEIN. PAUL HELMA. 

